Wireless house calls: using communications technology for health care and monitoring

Recent advances in telecommunications and information technologies have enabled various novel applications in health care and monitoring to address the needs of elderly and chronic patients. As wireless technology becomes more ubiquitous and affordable, applications, such as video-telephony over POTS, will gradually migrate towards third-generation wireless systems. We can also expect to see low-cost miniature wireless circuitry merging with sensor technologies to create a wide range of minimally invasive continuous health-monitoring systems. In some cases, wireless signals alone can be interpreted to monitor vital signs. These techniques promise to greatly improve the cost and convenience associated with long-term outpatient monitoring, and could potentially extend monitoring to the broader healthy population for preventative diagnostics and alerts.